Kimi Antonelli posed with Victor Wembanyama, and the photo speaks for itself: 51 centimeters separate the Mercedes driver from the San Antonio Spurs star. But while social media is having fun comparing their heights, Antonelli is thinking about another, far more significant number: the points separating him from the world title.
Antonelli can become champion as early as Sunday.
Visiting the Spurs before the United States Grand Prix, Antonelli met with Wembanyama and his teammates in San Antonio. In the video posted by the franchise's account, Antonelli says, with a smile:
" So, let's hope that in two weeks, we'll get it." The "we" here doesn't refer to Spurs : the driver is clearly talking about the possibility of finishing the Formula 1 season with the title secured. The scene is lighthearted, but the meeting in Austin will be anything but.
The prospect became a reality after the Singapore Grand Prix. Antonelli finished third there, while his teammate George Russell , who started from the back after an engine penalty, finished ninth. As a result, the young Italian now has a 102-point lead over Russell , his closest rival. Six races remain on the calendar, with 150 points still up for grabs. He therefore has his first match point in Texas.
The title is possible, but it hasn't been handed to us on a silver platter yet.
To clinch the title in Austin, Antonelli will have to win the Grand Prix. But that victory alone won't be enough: Russell will need to finish ninth or lower, and Lewis Hamilton fifth or lower. Max Verstappen , on the other hand, can finish anywhere in this scenario. The calculations are precise, the conditions demanding, and the slightest mistake could postpone the celebration until the next race.
The video's tone suggests quiet confidence. After Singapore, however, Antonelli had greeted the news of his chances with surprise. "Really?" he exclaimed when it was explained to him that he could win the championship as early as the next race. He immediately refocused the discussion: " Let's try to have the best weekends possible and finish the job ." The tone is measured; the stakes, however, are historic.
At 20, the Mercedes driver could become the youngest world champion in F1 history, and the first Italian to win the title since Alberto Ascari in 1953. But Austin isn't a pre-booked celebration setting. The weekend is a sprint format: drivers will need to be fast from the very first practice sessions and avoid dropping points on Saturday. A poor qualifying performance, a minor collision, or an ill-conceived strategy could be enough to turn a potential championship opportunity into a mere warning.
A Texan detour before the pressure
The visit to the Spurs offered a welcome respite before the upcoming season. Wembanyama and his teammates were preparing for the start of their NBA season; Antonelli , on the other hand, was already immersed in the final stretch of his league campaign. The players were particularly interested in knowing the top speed of Formula 1 cars. A legitimate question: on the court, the Spurs have the advantage in height; on a straightaway, Antonelli 's Mercedes would likely gain a few centimeters.
This encounter also serves as a reminder that the Italian driver is no longer arriving in Texas as the rookie Mercedes had to guide step by step. He has won races, racked up podium finishes, and built a considerable lead. His season is therefore not simply a one-off breakthrough: he has maintained his pace long enough for the title to become a matter of timing and calculations.
For Mercedes , the stakes go beyond individual glory. The team must manage the internal rivalry with Russell without letting the points battle distract its leading driver. Russell remains mathematically in contention, but his lead has shrunk after Singapore. A team can celebrate a title and maintain a working relationship in the same weekend; it can also turn the final stretch into a high-speed exercise in diplomacy.
Antonelli , for his part, keeps his eyes on the track. The photo with Wembanyama will go viral because of their height difference. In Austin, it's the gaps in the standings that will matter. If the conditions align, he can turn his career around and make history even before the final five races. Otherwise, he'll leave with another lead to defend.
The young Italian summed up the situation in one sentence in San Antonio: "Hopefully, in two weeks, we'll get it ." Wembanyama can lend him his stature; the title, however, will still have to be won corner by corner.
Kimi Antonelli (5 foot 8 inches) met NBA star Victor Wembanyama (7 foot 4 inches) before the USGP.
🎥: @spurs pic.twitter.com/28he6vpaOr
— Motorsport (@Motorsport) October 20, 2026
